The city fell after several weeks of fighting to a force of local militia under Pashtun military commanders and their American advisers.

The latter were led by Saif al-Adel and mostly consisted of a few hundred Arab mujahideen who had joined the movement in response to the U.S. bombings of Afghanistan.

[citation needed] Anti-Taliban commander Gul Agha Sherzai was contacted by a US Army Special Forces ODA on 18 November.

After receiving supplies, they moved out on 22 November in a convoy of over 100 vehicles and began advancing on Kandahar through the Arghastan desert.

On 27 November, the 15th MEU was joined by a unit of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and began joint operations against Taliban forces.

After a two-day battle involving heavy airstrikes the Taliban withdrew on 4 December, leaving the bridge intact.

[citation needed] On 7 December, Sherzai's men began their assault on Kandahar's airport, but met little resistance.